The Dragon Prince's Warrior

Odd vision

Moments before the royal meeting took place...

The young woman watched as the prince departed to attend to what his father, the Emperor, urgently needed to address. Her heartbeats had surged to extremely high levels due to two situations:

The first was when Yun had taken her hand to hand her the earring. He had no idea of the effect he had on her with his proximity, and she couldn't believe how attentive he was being after their ordeal in the distant Yumai mountains.

The second, perhaps much more obvious than the former, was being in the presence of Emperor Heng himself, which was more terrifying than she could have imagined. The aura that man exuded sent shivers down her spine just by recollecting it. Moreover, if her intuition served her right, he didn't regard her favorably. It must have been because she, amidst that grand palace filled with wealth, felt so insignificant that it was only natural for her to feel completely out of place.

A tingling sensation filled her chest, conveying that she was unwelcome, to the extent that she felt an overwhelming urge to flee and seek solace in her parents' arms. However, on the contrary, another part of her urged that she was in the right place and needed to act to recover what those dark dragons had taken away, besides...

The image of Yun slowly nearing inches from her face in that moment of adversity invaded her mind, causing her cheeks to burn. She had never felt such strong emotions for a man, despite the surplus of suitors from the village and neighboring city attempting to court her. None had struck her as deeply as he did. Why did he have to be a prince? If they were of the same social status, maybe she'd feel free to express the burning sensation in the center of her chest.

Siu shook her head subtly, feeling foolish for thinking about the prince in that manner. The only connection they had was their fight for peace; there was no room to entertain foolish whims that only transformed into vague illusions. Suddenly, a growl from her stomach snapped her out of any other sensations she might have been feeling.

"Enough of these foolish thoughts. I better go inside and wait for... Prince Yun. I'll deal with everything that's troubling me later."

With a sense of feeling alien in that luxurious palace, so adorned and splendid, just as her village neighbors had described it, Siu took a deep breath and began heading toward the sickroom. She ascended the stairs and crossed the main hall swiftly. She couldn't deny that nerves continued to consume her. There was another flight of stairs left to reach the area where she had been recovering a few days ago.

The young woman continued walking, glimpsing in the distance a portrait of a beautiful woman with fair skin and red clothes; looking at it, she couldn't help but feel a déjà vu, as if she had seen her somewhere else before. But for now, nervousness prevented her from thinking clearly.

She proceeded along the long corridor on the second level. The refreshing sensation of the palace was indescribable, and the ornate designs on the ceiling were truly a work of art. Among them were thousands of drawings of past emperors, and there, depicted, was the Fenghuang, right next to a dragon.

The young woman found it curious that both were drawn so close together, but she couldn't dwell on this thought because her steps had already reached the entrance to the Royal Infirmary Room. She entered silently, as if not wanting to disturb the young man who lay convalescing and was being watched by a pair of young nurses who immediately turned to look at her.

"Miss... Wu, right?" said the young man with a broad smile while scratching the back of his head, and his companion shifted her gaze from him to her and frowned.

"Hello! Good morning," Siu replied, waving her hand and bowing.

"Miss, please have a seat," offered the young nurse with a stiff smile, one that Siu immediately noticed. What could be happening to her? "You'll get tired standing there. It's better to rest."

"You're very kind," Siu thanked her, as the young man approached to arrange the chair for her to sit. "Uh... I can do it, don't worry, I'm all set, you see?"

"Sorry, Miss, I just wanted to help," the young man said, bowing and still smiling as he moved away to where his companion was, accidentally stepping on her toe.

"Hey! Watch where you're going, silly!" the girl exclaimed, pushing her clumsy companion.

"Sorry, it wasn't intentional, and don't push me," he said, frowning.

Siu laughed at the scene; both seemed kind, though the girl was clearly tense. Soon, the young woman redirected her attention to her own concerns. Once again, her mind conjured up Yun's image; she couldn't get him out of her thoughts, especially knowing she was so close to him yet now he seemed so far and unattainable. Her musings were interrupted by the arrival of a couple of palace cooks.

"Miss? His Highness, Prince Yun, sent this," said one of them, offering a tray of soup and steamed buns along with mint tea.

"This is... unexpected," remarked a surprised Siu as she received the tray and bowed in gratitude. Without further ado, she began to enjoy that delicious breakfast.

After finishing her snack, Siu had patiently been awaiting Yun's arrival. She wanted to tell him so many things and discuss forming a team to overthrow those evil dragons.

She had been considering that perhaps the earring she had was the key to doing so, and if they joined forces, they could achieve it. It's just that she hadn't had time to tell him.

The girl's feet dangled a bit from the chair she was sitting on, and she gently swayed them. Instead of bothering her, it provided relaxation for the burning excitement she felt in her chest.

She was very determined to carry out everything that was spontaneously taking root in her mind. Her warrior heart dictated that only in this way would she reunite with her parents and save many people.

"Parents, I'll do everything in my power to find you, I swear by this earring that helped Prince Yun defeat three dragons."

Siu startled as the young man lying nearby began to stir persistently, emitting sounds resembling grunts and lamenting moans.

His forehead began to bead with sweat, his face turning paper white, and most peculiarly... when had the pair of nurses left, she hadn't noticed earlier? She turned her gaze back to him.

The corners of the young woman's mouth turned downward; she couldn't bear to see this man suffer. Suddenly, a strange glint lit up around her chest... It was the pendant!

Her heart leapt with excitement, and she stood up, knowing she only needed to take a few steps, but suddenly her actions were interrupted as the rest of the nursing team entered the room.

Siu immediately froze; she didn't want to be seen in that state. No one should find out about the earring before she spoke with Yun. She managed to clutch the earring in her hand and took a step back, watching as the chief doctor whispered something to the senior nurse.

The young woman attempted to distance herself, but it was futile; the woman had already blocked her path. She tried to pull away, but her arm was held by a cold yet friendly hand.

"Wait, dear... I have orders from His Highness. Do you see them?" The senior nurse looked towards the door. "Follow them; that group will take you from here to a guest room."

"Ah, of course," Siu smiled instinctively, sensing the nurse's warmth, which led her to nod without argument. "Just... Could you tell Prince Yun that I'll wait there, where they'll take me?"

The lady glanced around hesitantly before preparing to respond. "Dear... I'm afraid I can't pass messages to the prince; it could get me in trouble if I don't follow His Majesty's protocols."

"But, if you don't tell him, he..." Siu hesitated, furrowing her brow slightly.

"Come on, come on, young lady. Here, we do what the Emperor orders. Go with them; maybe one of them can deliver your message," the woman winked and gently nudged Siu out of there.

Siu walked immediately towards the exit, pouting, unable to conceal it. She just hoped Yun would find her wherever she was; she would leave everything to fate. Miraculously, the Emperor's order hadn't been to leave the palace, as that option had crossed her mind after he had looked at her with those terrifying eyes. Soon, she faced a younger girl, possibly smaller in age than herself.

"Come, join us, please," said the smiling girl dressed in a gray hanfu, the straight skirt reaching her ankles, revealing her white feiyue shoes, while her bell sleeves extended to her wrists.

When Siu looked up, she realized there were more girls dressed exactly like her; she immediately knew those outfits were their servant uniforms. She returned the smile with a subtle bow and straightened up to be guided to the famous guest room.

They crossed the long corridor, and Siu once again got lost in the painted canvas, possibly a portrait of the late Empress. Not watching her path, Siu tripped and, trying to regain balance, stepped forward, accidentally stepping on the white hem of her nurse's gown. This caused the gown to tear vertically, exposing part of her still unclothed body after a week of intensive care.

All the girls were immediately startled by the sound of the tearing, more so when they realized her state beneath the gown.

"Damn!" Siu exclaimed and merely grabbed the two separated parts, trying to join them with her hands, making sure no one had seen her intimacies, especially any man.

"Cover her, now!" demanded the one who seemed to be their leader, and immediately, all of them positioned themselves in front and around the young guest, continuing to walk.

"Why me?" Siu lamented as she followed the guiding servant.

"For heaven's sake! Today isn't your day," a short-haired servant dared to mutter.

"Actually, I think that has been and will be my natural state for some time now," Siu commented, crestfallen.

"Oh, come on, girl. Don't feel bad; there's nothing a nice dress can't fix," said the tallest of the servants.

"What do you mean?" Siu looked up at her.

"Well..." The tall girl glanced around. "Someone nice might lend the girl here a dress, one that fits her. Mine probably won't, because..." she gestured towards her whole body. "It's obvious."

They all began to chatter among themselves; apparently, some were very possessive of their particular outfits. Just in time, they stopped in front of the guest room. One of them reached for the key.

"It's this way; go in quickly," the girl pointed and let Siu go first.

Siu couldn't focus on anything else but covering herself while the girls continued to argue. She was starting to feel desperate.

"I know, how about a uniform like ours?" suggested the youngest of the group.

"Don't even dream; there are no spares, and you know it," the tallest retorted, shaking her hands in denial.

Siu lost track of their conversation. The gleam of a mirror in front of her caught her attention; her eyes turned to the wardrobe, and she raised an eyebrow, feeling she might find at least a sheet to cover herself.

Carefully, she stood up and tiptoed over to the furniture, flashed a little smile, and noticed the wardrobe contained only one jet-black qipao dress.

The girls ceased their conversations and focused on the discovery made by the guest.

"Hey... We don't leave dresses in the wardrobes, do we?" the leading girl asked, puzzled. They all shrugged or denied it, as the only things expected were towels, sheets, or cleaning supplies.

"Would there be any problem if I tried it on? If not, it would really save me. Girls?" Siu emphasized with a sly smile as she held up the dark qipao in front of the hesitant group.

"I think... we should ask their Majesties before she wears it; it's best..." the leader suggested.

"Oh, come on! This poor woman needs clothes now," she addressed Siu. "I'll take responsibility if they say something."

All were left speechless, then paused to discuss among themselves. The servant pushed the dress toward Siu and gestured for her to put it on, then began nudging her colleagues away. Siu smiled widely, bowed in gratitude, and watched as the group of servants left hesitantly.

Siu began to change and noticed that the dress was a bit tight. She pouted and adjusted it with some difficulty, but then the fabric started to give way a little.

"Well... No problem, it's not like I'm going out to display myself. I'll soon get back my clothes, and everything will be fine... Yes," thought Siu as she turned towards the mirror to see her reflection. She began scrutinizing herself, but her gaze stopped at her hair, which was somewhat damaged and dry.

Siu's mind was invaded by images of Yun for the thousandth time. Would he notice the change in attire when they met? And... would he like it? The young woman shook her head gently. Why was she thinking about him while looking at herself?

Without wasting time, she gathered her hair with both hands into a medium-high bun, using a red ribbon she found on the nightstand. She looked at herself again and finally felt better.

With great care, she approached the window to open it wide, and there her eyes caught a gleam that nearly blinded her, and it wasn't coming directly from her earring.

That figure, unrecognizable to her, headed toward the tallest trees in the grand royal garden. Siu rubbed her eyes because at the top of the tree was that figure seemingly showcasing itself to her in an unusual manner.

"Should I leave here? I don't want to cause trouble, but..." Siu pondered for a few seconds, but something told her that the gleam meant something.

With trembling hands and hesitant steps, Siu made her way towards the room's exit. She observed every detail of the entrance, including the rustic wooden door, the shining floor, and the two ornamented columns in front of the room.

She walked briskly, trying to memorize the surroundings until she recognized the main hall; she was very close to the garden.

As soon as she stepped out, she looked around. That gleam should have been above the tree, but she couldn't see it anywhere, even when she stepped back a few paces to look at the treetop. Could it have been some kind of illusion?

She couldn't believe it; it must have been real, and she would prove it. She headed towards the foot of the large tree that seemed to be watching her from above and without hesitation, began to climb; she was good at that. She furrowed her brow, very determined, and set to work on the first jump that would take her to the top of the lush tree.

"Stop right there!" exclaimed a demanding voice that made Siu's skin crawl. When she turned to look, she couldn't believe it; she almost had a heart attack, and embarrassment began to dye her cheeks an intense red. She wanted to disappear from the face of the earth.